US9653636B2 - Device for interconnecting photovoltaic cells having contacts on their back side, and module comprising such a device - Google Patents

Device for interconnecting photovoltaic cells having contacts on their back side, and module comprising such a device Download PDF

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US9653636B2
US9653636B2 US14/652,626 US201314652626A US9653636B2 US 9653636 B2 US9653636 B2 US 9653636B2 US 201314652626 A US201314652626 A US 201314652626A US 9653636 B2 US9653636 B2 US 9653636B2
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fabric
fibres
cells
electrically insulating
ribbon
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US20150340529A1 (en
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Charlotte Gillot
Stéphane Guillerez
Philippe Voarino
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Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives CEA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/042—PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
    • H01L31/05—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
    • H01L31/0504—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module
    • H01L31/0512—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module made of a particular material or composition of materials
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B23—MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B23K—SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
    • B23K1/00—Soldering, e.g. brazing, or unsoldering
    • B23K1/0008—Soldering, e.g. brazing, or unsoldering specially adapted for particular articles or work
    • B23K1/0016—Brazing of electronic components
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
    • B32B37/12—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by using adhesives
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B37/00—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
    • B32B37/14—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers
    • B32B37/16—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers with all layers existing as coherent layers before laminating
    • B32B37/18—Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding characterised by the properties of the layers with all layers existing as coherent layers before laminating involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/02—Details
    • H01L31/0224—Electrodes
    • H01L31/022408—Electrodes for devices characterised by at least one potential jump barrier or surface barrier
    • H01L31/022425—Electrodes for devices characterised by at least one potential jump barrier or surface barrier for solar cells
    • H01L31/022441—Electrode arrangements specially adapted for back-contact solar cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/042—PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
    • H01L31/048—Encapsulation of modules
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/042—PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
    • H01L31/05—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
    • H01L31/0504—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module
    • H01L31/0508—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module the interconnection means having a particular shape
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/04—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices
    • H01L31/042—PV modules or arrays of single PV cells
    • H01L31/05—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells
    • H01L31/0504—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module
    • H01L31/0516—Electrical interconnection means between PV cells inside the PV module, e.g. series connection of PV cells specially adapted for series or parallel connection of solar cells in a module specially adapted for interconnection of back-contact solar cells
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01L—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS H10
    • H01L31/00—Semiconductor devices sensitive to infrared radiation, light, electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength or corpuscular radiation and specially adapted either for the conversion of the energy of such radiation into electrical energy or for the control of electrical energy by such radiation; Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment thereof or of parts thereof; Details thereof
    • H01L31/18—Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/20—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. piezoelectric
    • B32B2307/202—Conductive
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2457/00—Electrical equipment
    • B32B2457/12—Photovoltaic modules
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/50—Photovoltaic [PV] energy
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T156/00—Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
    • Y10T156/10—Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a device for interconnecting photovoltaic cells having back side contacts, allowing the modular assembly of said cells, a module of photovoltaic cells having back side contacts comprising such a device, and a process for manufacturing such a module.
  • Photovoltaic cells having back side contacts are a particular type of cell having their two metal electrodes on the back side i.e. their side opposite the side which receives solar radiation.
  • Electrical connection pads are formed on each of said electrodes respectively for their connection to an electric circuit allowing collection of the photogenerated current.
  • This configuration of the cells is particularly advantageous for producing a module comprising a plurality of such cells.
  • metal connectors can be used.
  • MWT cells Metal Wrap Through
  • EWT cells Emitter Wrap Through
  • the protective backsheet In general it is the protective backsheet, the chief functions of which are to ensure electric insulation and to protect the module against outside attack, which meets this additional support-giving role, a copper layer comprising the metal interconnect lines being arranged on the side of the protective backsheet in contact with the connection pads on the back side of the cells.
  • this technique entails a significant loss of material since the formation of the conductive traces generally assumes that the metallised film is deposited on the entire side of the protective backsheet followed by chemical etching so as to maintain only those regions intended to form the traces.
  • the conductive traces are formed on a substrate in the form of a mesh in polymer material, said mesh being inserted between the protective backsheet and the cells.
  • the assembly is then laminated with an encapsulating material which passes through the mesh openings to ensure the mechanical strength of the module.
  • Said electrically insulating layer may be present on each cell, on the connector or on the metallised film.
  • said insulating layer may be an independent layer inserted between each cell and the connector or metallised film.
  • this insulating layer entails an additional step in the fabrication of the module.
  • a device for interconnecting photovoltaic cells having back side contacts characterized in that it comprises at least one layer of fabric having electrically insulating fibres, said fabric comprising at least one portion of wire or ribbon in electrically conductive material woven with said fibres and arranged to as to lie flush with the surface of at least one region of the fabric to form an electrical contact area intended to be connected to a contact pad positioned on the back side of a cell.
  • Said at least one portion of electrically conductive wire or ribbon may lie parallel to the weft fibres of said fabric or to the warp fibres of said fabric.
  • said portion of electrically conductive wire is formed of a plurality of strands.
  • the porosity of said fabric is selected so as to allow the impregnation of the photovoltaic cells with an encapsulating material during a lamination step of the cells and of said device.
  • said fabric is a three-dimensional fabric comprising at least two layers of electrically insulating fibres, said layers being joined to one another by a plurality of electrically insulating fibres.
  • the electrically insulating fibres of said fabric may be glass fibres or textile fibres.
  • Said fabric advantageously has a mass per unit area of between 10 and 100 g/cm 2 .
  • said portion of electrically conductive wire or ribbon is arranged so as to lie flush with the surface of a region of a first side of the fabric of electrically insulating fibres, and with the surface of a region of a second side of the fabric opposite the first side so as to form electrical contact areas on two sides of said interconnection device.
  • the fabric may advantageously contain fibres in a material for encapsulating the photovoltaic cells, said material being adapted to impregnate the fabric and encapsulate the photovoltaic cells during a lamination step of the cells and of said device.
  • a further subject of the invention is a module of photovoltaic cells having interconnected back side contacts comprising a plurality of back contact photovoltaic cells and an interconnection device such as described above arranged along the back side of the cells, the arrangement of the electrical contact areas on the surface of the fabric of electrically insulating fibres of said device being selected so that the contact pads of the cells are joined to the contact areas of said device and so that said contact pads are electrically insulated from one another by a region of the fabric layer of electrically insulating fibres positioned between said pads.
  • the interconnection device ensures the electrical connection of at least one contact pad of a cell with a contact pad having opposite polarity of an adjacent cell via one same electrical contact area or via two separate electrical contact areas, said areas being electrically connected by a ribbon arranged transverse to said areas.
  • said module between the back side of said cells and the interconnection device, may comprise a least one layer of fabric formed of electrically insulating fibres.
  • the cells and the interconnection device can be encapsulated in an encapsulation material, said material impregnating the fabric of the interconnection device.
  • a further subject of the invention concerns a process for manufacturing a module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells having interconnected back side contacts, which comprises:
  • the electrical connection of the pads with the electrical contact areas is obtained by soldering.
  • the electrical connection of the pads with the electrical contact areas is obtained by gluing using a conductive adhesive.
  • Said process may further comprise a lamination step of the device connected to the cells using an encapsulating material, said material impregnating the meshing of the fabric.
  • said process comprises the insertion of an electrically insulating fabric between the interconnection device and the back side of the photovoltaic cells before forming the electrical connection between the pads and the electrical contact areas, then forming said electrical connection by applying an electrical conductive material, said material being capable of passing through said fabric.
  • the provision of the interconnection device advantageously comprises the weaving of the electrically insulating fibres with said at least one portion of electrically conductive wire or ribbon to form the fabric.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view, before lamination, of the components of a module according to one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of the interconnecting of cells having back side contacts
  • FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate two embodiments of the interconnection device in which the fabric of electrically insulating fibres is a three-dimensional fabric
  • FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of a module wherein an electrically insulating layer is intercalated between the back side of the cells and the interconnection device;
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate examples of modules according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the components needed to produce a module comprising interconnected photovoltaic cells, before the lamination step.
  • This Figure illustrates two cells PV 1 , PV 2 with back side contacts, arranged side-by-side to form a module.
  • the front side of the cells is designated F 1 ; the back side which carries the contact pads is designated F 2 .
  • the module may comprise a larger number of photovoltaic cells which can be arranged for example in rows and columns.
  • An interconnection device 1 is arranged along the back sides of the cells PV 1 , PV 2 .
  • said device 1 comprises a fabric of electrically insulating fibres 10 .
  • FIG. 1 only the warp fibres are illustrated (in cross-section) but the fabric also comprises weft fibres perpendicular to the warp fibres.
  • the device 1 comprises at least one portion 100 of electrically conductive wire or ribbon arranged among the fibres of the fabric and lying flush with one side of the fabric (called the front side) so as to form an electrical contact area 101 .
  • the area 101 is positioned opposite an interconnection pad located on the back side of a photovoltaic cell, it can be electrically connected (reference 102 ) thereto by any known means such as soldering, conductive glue, etc.
  • This device has the advantage of providing an electrical connection via contact between the electrical contact area and the contact pad. It is therefore not necessary to size the fabric of fibres with a view to passing interconnecting material whether this be a fusible alloy for soldering or a glue.
  • said portion 100 of electrically conductive wire or ribbon is arranged so as to lie flush with two front regions of the fabric, to form two electrical contact areas 101 facing two contact pads of each of the two cells.
  • the electrical contact areas formed by positioning the electrically conductive portion of wire or ribbon flush with the surface of the fabric may be located on two opposite sides of the fabric.
  • the conductive regions of the fabric arranged on the opposite side to the cell side are intended to allow contact with one or more ribbons via which external electrical connections can be made.
  • portion of wire or ribbon is meant the fact that the electrically conductive wire or ribbon does not extend over the entire length or width of the interconnection device 1 , but over a portion thereof sufficient to interconnect two adjacent photovoltaic cells.
  • the portion of wire or ribbon is shorter in length than the warp and/or weft threads.
  • the interconnection device may therefore comprise several separate portions of wire or ribbon extending over one same line but not electrically connected together.
  • the interconnection device has electrically insulating regions 103 which allow the electrical contact areas 101 to be insulated from regions of the cell other than the contact pads.
  • the portion of wire or ribbon is arranged in relation to the fibres of the fabric such that, between two electrical contact areas, the wire or ribbon passes underneath the fibres of the fabric: these regions of the device are therefore electrically insulating due to the presence of the fibres on the surface.
  • the fabric with fibres of different diameters to adjust the conductive regions and insulating regions.
  • the insulating regions 103 can be produced with larger fibres to obtain better overlapping of the underlying conductive portion of wire or ribbon.
  • the front side of the module (intended to receive solar radiation) is covered with a glass sheet 4 intended to protect the front side of the cells.
  • the back side of the module is coated with a protective sheet 5 called a “backsheet”.
  • the electrical contact areas 101 of the device 1 are connected to the contact pads of the cells PV 1 , PV 2 .
  • Connection can be obtained using any type of conventional method such as soldering or gluing.
  • module assembly can be carried out.
  • the module assembly may comprise, for example, a lamination step during which the encapsulation material(s) previously added to the different components of the module become viscous, impregnate the fabric due to the porosity thereof and encapsulate the different cells.
  • the invention is therefore not limited to any particular module assembly technique.
  • the above-described device Compared with existing interconnection devices the above-described device has the advantage of being low-cost and not causing loss of material.
  • the same device ensures both the electrical connection of cells (via the electrical contact areas 101 ) and the electrical insulation of the pads (via the electrically insulating regions 103 ).
  • FIG. 2 gives an underside view of the interconnecting principle of the + and ⁇ poles of four cells PV 1 to PV 4 of a module.
  • each cell is schematised in the form of a rectangle with three aligned positive pads and three aligned negative pads.
  • the + contact pads of cell PV 1 are electrically connected to the ⁇ contact pads of the adjacent cell PV 2 via a first portion 100 a of electrically conductive wire or ribbon.
  • the + contact pads of cell PV 2 are electrically connected to the ⁇ contact pads of the adjacent cell PV 3 via a second portion 100 b of electrically conductive wire or ribbon.
  • the + contact pads of cell PV 3 are electrically connected to the ⁇ contact pads of the adjacent cell PV 4 via a third portion 100 c of electrically conductive wire or ribbon.
  • portions 100 a and 100 c are aligned, they do not belong to a continuous wire or ribbon and are therefore not electrically connected.
  • the arrangement of the portions of electrically conductive wire or ribbon in the fabric of insulating fibres, and of the regions in which these portions lie flush with the surface of the fabric, is defined as a function of the electrical wiring layout of the cells within the module.
  • the insertion of the portions of electrically conductive wire or ribbon is performed during weaving of the fabric.
  • the fabric of electrically insulating fibres has a satin-type or twill-type weave rather than a plain weave.
  • satin- or twill-type weaves In opposition to a plain weave wherein a weft fibre successively passes above and below warp fibres, thereby forming a chequer pattern, satin- or twill-type weaves have a broad diversity of patterns and allow better adaptation to the stresses of wiring providing greater freedom for arrangement of the portions of electrically conductive wire or ribbon.
  • the electrically insulating fibres of the fabric are advantageously glass fibres or textile fibres such as those in polyamide for example.
  • the fabric typically has a mass per unit area of between 10 and 100 g/cm 2 .
  • the fabric advantageously has sufficient porosity to allow impregnation of the photovoltaic cells by the encapsulating material(s) at an optional lamination step performed during modular assembly.
  • the encapsulating material which is generally a thermoplastic polymer or elastomer such as EVA for example, becomes viscous under the effect of heating applied during lamination and is able to pass through the openings of the fabric for impregnation thereof.
  • the fabric does not therefore prevent homogenous distribution of the encapsulating material throughout the module.
  • the fabric of electrically insulating fibres can be impregnated with material allowing some dimensional stability to be imparted thereto.
  • said fabric may comprise fibres in encapsulating material (e.g. a thermoplastic) intended to melt during the lamination step.
  • encapsulating material e.g. a thermoplastic
  • the fabric may be a so-called “3D” fabric (three-dimensional) comprising at least two layers 11 , 12 of electrically insulating fibres 10 , said layers 11 , 12 being joined to one another via a plurality of electrically insulating fibres (not illustrated).
  • the fibres forming each of the layers may be the same or different.
  • this allows the wire or ribbon in some regions to be caused to lie flush with the surface of one and/or the other of the two sides of the fabric, and in other regions to leave the wire or ribbon in the thickness of the fabric to form electrically insulating regions. Also in these latter regions the layers of fibres located either side of the wire or ribbon further ensure mechanical support, this being all the more useful if there is a long distance between two electrical contact areas formed by the same portion and if the portion of wire or ribbon is rectilinear as illustrated in FIG. 3B .
  • the electrical contact areas 101 can be formed by a portion of electrically conductive wire or ribbon e.g. in copper, silver or a copper or silver alloy.
  • each electrical contact area intended to be connected to a contact pad is preferably between 1 and 7 mm 2 .
  • the cross-section of the wire or ribbon is typically between 0.1 and 0.5 mm 2 .
  • a wire this may be formed of a single strand or a plurality of parallel strands arranged sufficiently close to one another so that they can be connected to one same pad of a cell. In this latter case, said strands may optionally be separated from each other by one or more electrically insulating fibres.
  • the advantage of a plurality of strands compared with a ribbon of equivalent cross-section is that it allows a more flexible conductive portion to be obtained, which reduces applied thermal mechanical stresses at the time of weaving and module assembly.
  • an electrically insulating porous layer 13 e.g. a glass fibre fabric
  • This layer 13 allows reinforced insulation of the contact pads of the different cells.
  • the interconnection device comprises regions 101 ′ in which a portion 100 of electrically conductive wire or ribbon lies flush with the surface of the fabric but these regions are not intended to be connected to the contact pads of the cells. These regions 101 ′ are therefore functionally different from the electrical contact areas 101 .
  • the electrically insulating layer 13 prevents any undue electrical connection between the regions 101 ′ of the interconnection device and the contact pads of the cells.
  • Said layer 13 can be formed of the same electrically insulating fabric as the interconnection device (without any conductive wire or ribbon in this case) or else a different fabric.
  • the interconnection device ensures the electrical connection between at least one contact pad of a cell and a contact pad of opposite polarity of an adjacent cell.
  • said connection is obtained by one same electrical area which is arranged along said pads.
  • connection is formed of two separate electrical contact areas, said areas being electrically connected together by a portion of ribbon arranged transverse to said areas.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate two examples of embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a module of 2 ⁇ 2 photovoltaic cells PV 1 to PV 4 with back side contacts.
  • Each cell has four contact pads connected to a + output and three contact pads connected to a ⁇ output.
  • the + pads of cell PV 2 are connected to the ⁇ pads of cell PV 4 by two series of conductive wires 101 , 101 a , said portions being electrically connected by a ribbon 104 arranged transverse to said portions.
  • the portion of ribbon 104 can be soldered to each of said wire portions 101 , 101 a , on the side opposite the cells of the interconnection device 1 .
  • the portion of ribbon can be integrated in a three-dimensional fabric between two layers of said fabric.
  • FIG. 6 schematically illustrates another module of 2 ⁇ 2 photovoltaic cells PV 1 to PV 4 with back side contacts.
  • Each cell has three contact pads connected to a + output and three contact pads connected to a ⁇ output.
  • three wire portions 101 connect the ⁇ contact pads of cell PV 1 to the + contact pads of cell PV 3 .
  • the + contact pads of cell PV 2 are connected to the ⁇ contact pads of cell PV 4 via three wire portions 101 b.
  • the ⁇ contact pads of cell PV 3 are connected to the + contact poles of cell PV 4 via two separate wire portions 101 a , 101 d that are connected by a portion of ribbon 104 which extends transverse to said portions 101 a , 101 d.
  • the electrodes are formed on the back side by interdigitated fingers.
  • a dot of glue or solder point is then formed on the electrical contact areas of the fabric and/or at the electrodes along the interconnection plane.
  • the interconnection device is custom produced as a function of the module to be assembled, particularly taking into account the number and type of cells and the interconnection plane of said cells.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
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  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Photovoltaic Devices (AREA)
US14/652,626 2012-12-18 2013-12-18 Device for interconnecting photovoltaic cells having contacts on their back side, and module comprising such a device Expired - Fee Related US9653636B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1262258A FR2999804B1 (fr) 2012-12-18 2012-12-18 Dispositif d'interconnexion de cellules photovoltaiques a contacts en face arriere, et module comprenant un tel dispositif
FR1262258 2012-12-18
PCT/EP2013/077077 WO2014095991A1 (fr) 2012-12-18 2013-12-18 Dispositif d'interconnexion de cellules photovoltaiques a contacts en face arriere, et module comprenant un tel dispositif

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CN107438904B (zh) * 2015-03-30 2020-04-10 Imec 非营利协会 电接触和互连光伏电池
US9935213B2 (en) * 2015-06-26 2018-04-03 Sunpower Corporation Wire-based metallization for solar cells
EP3258503B1 (fr) * 2016-06-17 2023-04-12 IMEC vzw Armure hybride pour la mise en contact électrique de cellules photovoltaïques
EP3358630B1 (fr) * 2017-02-06 2020-04-15 IMEC vzw Panneaux photovoltaïques partiellement translucides et leurs procédés de fabrication
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US10233571B1 (en) * 2017-12-26 2019-03-19 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Multi-functional textiles with integrated sensing and control elements
CN109659402A (zh) * 2019-01-24 2019-04-19 常州时创能源科技有限公司 太阳能电池片的串连工艺
EP3723206B1 (fr) * 2019-04-08 2022-07-27 Vibia Lighting S.L. Dispositif électrique connectable à une bande textile conductrice
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CN104871322A (zh) 2015-08-26
US20150340529A1 (en) 2015-11-26
KR20150099535A (ko) 2015-08-31
JP2016500487A (ja) 2016-01-12
WO2014095991A1 (fr) 2014-06-26
EP2936565A1 (fr) 2015-10-28
FR2999804B1 (fr) 2015-01-09
FR2999804A1 (fr) 2014-06-20

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